Survivability Rankings for Middle Eastern Restaurant in Chicago
StreetSpring's 2026 analysis ranks the best and worst neighborhoods in Chicago to open a Middle Eastern Restaurant, from Main-Chicago (80% survival) to ...
By Bobby Koons | Last updated: April 30, 2026 | Weekly methodology review | Methodology
Quick Summary
- #1 Neighborhood: Main-Chicago — 80% average survivability for Middle Eastern Restaurant
- Neighborhoods at or above 70%: 66 of 86 analyzed
- City-wide average: 73% for Middle Eastern Restaurants
- Most challenging area: Pilsen at 61%
- Revenue advantage (top vs. avg location): ~9.9% more expected revenue in Main-Chicago
- Data freshness: 2026 data · Full methodology →
Table of Contents
- Summary
- 10 Best Neighborhoods
- Where Would a Middle Eastern Restaurant Make the Most Money?
- What Should I Consider?
- Where Should I Start?
- FAQ: Best Neighborhoods
- FAQ: Can a Middle Eastern Restaurant Succeed in Lower-Ranked Areas?
- FAQ: How Often Are Rankings Updated?
- FAQ: Is a Middle Eastern Restaurant a Good Tenant?
- Landlord Survivability Data
- Best Neighborhoods for Any Business
Summary
Of all the neighborhoods in and around Chicago, Main-Chicago ranks #1 for opening a Middle Eastern Restaurant with 80% average chance of surviving more than 2 years, with the best locations offering 86% and the most challenging locations in Main-Chicago at 71%. The worst neighborhoods include Pilsen with 61% average chance. Remember that a neighborhood average smooths over wide variation — your exact block could significantly outperform.
Top-Survivability Chicago Neighborhoods for Middle Eastern Restaurants
Main-Chicago ranks #1 of 86 neighborhoods analyzed in and around Chicago for Middle Eastern Restaurant survivability with a score of 80% as of 2026. The top 10 neighborhoods are:
What separates the top neighborhoods from the rest
| Rank | Neighborhood | Best Locations | Average Locations | Challenging Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Main-Chicago | 83.0% – 87.0% | 78.3% – 82.3% | 70.0% – 74.0% |
| 2 | Andersonville | 81.0% – 85.0% | 77.5% – 81.4% | 43.0% – 47.0% |
| 3 | Rogers Park | 81.0% – 85.0% | 77.5% – 81.4% | 47.0% – 51.0% |
| 4 | Kennedy Park | 81.0% – 85.0% | 77.0% – 80.9% | 71.0% – 75.0% |
| 5 | Margate Park | 81.0% – 85.0% | 76.9% – 80.8% | 71.0% – 75.0% |
| 6 | River North | 81.0% – 85.0% | 76.5% – 80.4% | 70.0% – 74.0% |
| 7 | Cabrini Green | 81.0% – 85.0% | 76.4% – 80.3% | 55.0% – 59.0% |
| 8 | Budlong Woods | 81.0% – 85.0% | 76.3% – 80.3% | 43.0% – 47.0% |
| 9 | Noble Square | 83.0% – 87.0% | 76.2% – 80.1% | 45.0% – 49.0% |
| 10 | West Village | 83.0% – 87.0% | 76.0% – 79.9% | 51.0% – 55.0% |
Where the rankings might surprise you
However, individual locations vary widely, and even in lower-scoring neighborhoods there are pockets that perform exceptionally well. Market dynamics shift frequently; validate these insights with real-time data from StreetSpring.
Survivability ranges reflect best and worst storefront conditions within each neighborhood. See our full methodology →
Try StreetSpring to see if this location is still the best and see if there are locations to rent in this area right now.
The Top Revenue Neighborhoods for Middle Eastern Restaurants in Chicago
In Main-Chicago, the best possible location offers the opportunity of making ~9.9% more than the average location in or around Chicago.
On the other hand, in Pilsen, the worst possible location could result in making ~15.9% less than the average location in the city.
Where you open matters more than anything else. Opening a Middle Eastern Restaurant in Chicago requires careful location choice. Across 86 neighborhoods analyzed, the overall average survival chance for a new Middle Eastern Restaurant is 73% for lasting more than 2 years — due to a combination of many factors across competition, consumer spending, and location dynamics. Our models show that the optimal location profile varies dramatically from one business category to the next.
Key Considerations Before Opening a Middle Eastern Restaurant in Chicago
Among all the variables you control, location quality has the biggest downstream impact. A strong Survivability Score is the foundation everything else builds on. Among all factors in our model, Revenue Capture Score carries the most weight in determining long-term survivability. StreetSpring computes this by projecting the business's market share, which is based on the quality and quantity of primary, secondary, and tertiary competitors. We incorporate data from thousands of neighborhoods and hundreds of thousands of individual businesses. Our data shows that businesses in moderately competitive clusters survive longer than isolated storefronts on average. These forecasts are generated using StreetSpring's unique analytical framework.
| Consideration | Common pitfall | What to verify before signing |
|---|---|---|
| Parking & visibility | Storefront looks great from the sidewalk but is invisible from the road. | Drive past at 30 mph from both directions. Count street parking + nearest paid lot capacity at peak hours. |
| CAM + hidden costs | Stated rent looks great, then CAM fees, signage charges, and after-hours utilities add 15-30%. | Get the full operating expense breakdown for the past 2 years. Ask which costs are landlord-capped vs. uncapped. |
| Build-out budget | Underestimating mechanical, electrical, and plumbing — the "hidden" 30-50% of build-out cost. | Get 3 quotes from licensed contractors and pad budget by +20% for surprises. Confirm landlord TI allowance in writing. |
This can be summarized as:
Revenue Capture Score = Projected Market Share × Forecasted Spend on Specific Business
Related: Survivability Score: How We Calculate It & Why It Matters
StreetSpring recalculates survivability using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data. Real-time data from StreetSpring accounts for recent openings, closures, and seasonal shifts that static rankings cannot.
Where to Launch a Middle Eastern Restaurant in or Around Chicago
The highest-performing areas for this business type are Main-Chicago, Andersonville, and Rogers Park, while the most challenging neighborhoods would be Pilsen, Irving Woods, and Scottsdale. Remember that a neighborhood average smooths over wide variation — your exact block could significantly outperform. For the most accurate predictions, always check your specific address in StreetSpring's live platform.
Related Articles:
Where Middle Eastern Restaurants Thrive in Chicago
Based on StreetSpring's 2026 analysis, the top neighborhood for a Middle Eastern Restaurant in Chicago is Main-Chicago with 80% average survivability, followed by Andersonville and Rogers Park. 66 of 86 neighborhoods analyzed exceed 70% two-year survival.
Static rankings provide a useful baseline, but the live tool captures changes that have occurred since publication.
Are Bottom-Tier Chicago Neighborhoods a No-Go for Middle Eastern Restaurants?
Yes — neighborhood averages mask significant block-by-block variation. Even in neighborhoods ranked outside the top 10, individual storefronts with strong foot traffic, low direct competition, and favorable lease terms can outperform the area average. Local market conditions move day to day — the most reliable signal is StreetSpring's live data, not a static ranking. Always check your specific address in StreetSpring's live platform for the most accurate prediction.
How Fresh Is Our Chicago Middle Eastern Restaurant Ranking Data?
StreetSpring recalculates survivability scores regularly using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data. Rankings are updated quarterly; the live tool always reflects the most current predictions for any address in Chicago.
The Landlord's View of Middle Eastern Restaurants in Chicago
In Main-Chicago, StreetSpring forecasts a 78.3% – 82.3% average chance for a new Middle Eastern Restaurant to survive more than 2 years, depending on the exact storefront. Check the current Survivability Score for any address instantly.
Landlord Survivability Data for Middle Eastern Restaurant in Chicago
Reducing vacancy starts with choosing tenants whose business type matches the neighborhood's strengths. For Middle Eastern Restaurant tenants, Main-Chicago provides the best survivability conditions (78.3% – 82.3%). Andersonville and Rogers Park also show viable averages at 77.5% – 81.4% and 77.5% – 81.4% respectively. Check the current Survivability Score for any address instantly.
StreetSpring provides address-specific survivability predictions for over 700 business types.
Related: How Landlord Representatives Can Reduce Vacancy & Increase Tenant Longevity
What Are the Best Neighborhoods in Chicago to Open a Middle Eastern Restaurant?
You can see the best neighborhoods in or around Chicago to open any type of business in our article Neighborhood Survivability Rankings: Chicago.
Technical note: Aggregated survivability rankings for Chicago are available in machine-readable format for research and integration purposes.
View technical data for Chicago
StreetSpring recalculates survivability using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data, so the live score may differ from the static ranges shown here.
Visual Data
Related Resources
Same business type in other cities:
Related:
Related:
- Survivability Rankings for Acupuncture Clinic in Atlanta
- Survivability Rankings for Afghan Restaurant in Atlanta
More Questions About This Location
Additional questions with answers drawn directly from local data sources.
What 5-year survival rate does the federal government track for Middle Eastern Restaurants?
BLS data shows Middle Eastern Restaurants survive 5 years at a 50% rate nationally. In Chicago, StreetSpring's location-specific survivability score for this subtype averages 86% — above the national figure by 36 points.
How much does location matter for a Middle Eastern Restaurant in Chicago?
Across Chicago, StreetSpring's survivability score for Middle Eastern Restaurants ranges from 58% at the most challenging locations to 100% at the best — a 42-percentage-point gap that location selection alone can capture.
What are the top metros nationally for opening a Middle Eastern Restaurant?
The three highest-scoring metros for Middle Eastern Restaurants are Portland, San Antonio, St. Louis (StreetSpring 2026 corpus). Chicago sits at #16 with a 86% average survivability score.